CN113525667A

CN113525667A - Seal for mitigating leakage on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113525667A
Application number: CN202110396293.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王彤安; 克里斯汀·阿波里格伦; 科努特·皮德森
Original assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp
Current assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp
Priority date: 2020-04-14
Filing date: 2021-04-13
Publication date: 2021-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-04-13
Also published as: CN113525667B

Abstract

Seals and methods for making seals are provided. In one example, the seal includes an outer wall extending in the longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounding the first channel. The first plurality of interior walls are spaced apart from one another and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

Description

Seal for mitigating leakage on a vehicle

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application relates to and claims all available rights to U.S. provisional patent application 63/009,558 filed on even 14/4/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The technical field relates generally to seals and, more particularly, to seals for mitigating leaks on vehicles such as, for example, aircraft.

Background

Sealing various areas of a vehicle to mitigate acoustic, thermal, and/or airflow leaks, etc., is important to many vehicle manufacturers and their customers. Due to manufacturing tolerances, there are gaps at the interfaces between many vehicle structures. These gaps may be a concern. For example, when designing interior portions of an aircraft (e.g., a cabin or other interior region within a fuselage), aircraft manufacturers develop very fine designs to meet customer desires such as comfort, aesthetics, functionality, and the like. However, gaps at the interface between certain interior aircraft trim, components, furniture, equipment, and/or other structures may not only be aesthetically objectionable, but may also negatively impact occupant comfort, functionality, and/or the like because they allow for various types of leakage.

Furthermore, vehicles such as aircraft are designed to handle various loads during flight including wing lift and internal cabin pressure. Aircraft, including fuselages, cabin floors, and other structure(s), may change shape in response to these flight loads while the aircraft is in flight. However, when such shape changes occur, internal structures attached directly or indirectly to the fuselage and/or cabin floor may move, causing gaps between the various internal structures to open, contract, or otherwise change, thereby causing or increasing acoustic, thermal, and/or airflow leakage. In addition, such as via tape, foam,

Current methods of sealing gaps are point-to-point (ad-hoc) and/or "band-aid" type solutions that are not sufficient to completely mitigate leakage, particularly through gaps that may change or otherwise change, such as during aircraft flight.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a seal that addresses one or more of the foregoing problems, as well as a method for manufacturing the seal. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the various embodiments described herein will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Disclosure of Invention

Various non-limiting embodiments of seals and methods for making seals are provided herein.

In a first non-limiting embodiment, the seal includes, but is not limited to, an outer wall extending in the longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounding the first channel. The seal also includes, but is not limited to, a first plurality of interior walls spaced apart from one another and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

In another non-limiting embodiment, the method includes, but is not limited to, forming the outer wall by an addition process. The outer wall extends in the longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounds the first channel. The method also includes, but is not limited to, forming the plurality of inner walls by an additive process. The inner walls are spaced apart from each other and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

Drawings

Various embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an aircraft in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a seal according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2B shows a perspective cut-away view of the seal depicted in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of disposing a seal in a gap in an interior portion of an aircraft according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of disposing a seal in a gap in an interior portion of an aircraft according to an exemplary embodiment;

4A-4C illustrate various cross-sectional views of the internal shape of the end section of the seal depicted in FIG. 2A, according to an exemplary embodiment;

5A-5B illustrate various cross-sectional views of the interior shape of the mid-section of the seal depicted in FIG. 2A, according to exemplary embodiments;

6A-6D illustrate various cross-sectional views of the outer shape of the end section of the seal depicted in FIG. 2A, according to exemplary embodiments;

7A-7C illustrate various cross-sectional views of the outer shape of the seal depicted in FIG. 2A, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

fig. 8 shows a block diagram of a method for manufacturing a seal according to an exemplary embodiment.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the various embodiments or the application and uses thereof. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.

Various embodiments contemplated herein relate to seals and methods for manufacturing seals. Exemplary embodiments taught herein provide a seal having an outer wall extending in a longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounding a first channel. As used herein, the term "longitudinal direction" should be understood to mean the direction of elongation of the seal and may be linear, such as in the case of a substantially straight seal, or may be variable, such as in the case of a curved, bent or non-linear seal. For example, the first channel is an elongated hollow portion (e.g., an elongated space) defined by an inner surface of the seal. Inner walls of the first plurality of inner walls are spaced apart from one another and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner wall divides the channel into closed cells. For example, the seal is made of a flexible, resilient, and/or viscoelastic material that allows the seal to be squeezed or otherwise retained in the gap. The gap may occur between two objects, components and/or items that separate a first interior space (e.g., a first interior region) from a second interior space (e.g., a second interior region).

Advantageously, in an exemplary embodiment, leakage, such as thermal, acoustic or acoustic, airflow or fluid, and/or light leakage, is effectively reduced, minimized, prevented, and/or prevented from passing through the seal by providing the seal with an inner wall that subdivides the first channel into a first plurality of cells. In this way, leakage is prevented and/or hindered from passing from the inner space through the gap and into the further inner space(s). Additionally, in exemplary embodiments, by providing a seal with an elongated hollow portion(s) and fabricating the seal from a flexible, resilient, and/or viscoelastic material, the seal is allowed to be disposed in gaps of different sizes or in gaps that fluctuate in size, or in environments with fluctuations in temperature, pressure, and/or humidity, while still maintaining a seal that prevents and/or impedes leakage. For example, as a mitigation approach for providing quieter and/or more comfortable environments for vehicle occupants, seals may be disposed in gaps in a vehicle, such as an aircraft, such as those proximate to machinery or equipment that generates sound, thermal variations, pressure variations, and/or vibrations.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an aircraft 10 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The aircraft 10 includes a fuselage 12, which is the main body of the aircraft 10, that supports

wings

14, 16 and a tail 18. Depending on the design of the aircraft 10, the

engines

20, 22 may be attached to the fuselage 12 or the wings 14 and/or 16. The main purpose of the fuselage 12 is to carry passengers and their cargo. The fuselage 12 has an interior portion 24, the interior portion 24 including the cabin and the floor, as well as various components, furniture, structures, and/or the like disposed within the interior portion 24 and coupled directly or indirectly to the floor, fuselage walls, and/or other aircraft structures. For example, referring also to fig. 3A and 3B, inner portion 24 includes

objects

26a and 28a, or 26B and 28B, spaced apart to define a gap 30a or 30B, which gap 30a or 30B fluidly couples or connects inner spaces or

regions

32 and 34 of inner portion 24.

Gaps

30a and 30b allow for leakage (e.g., acoustic, thermal, and/or airflow leakage, etc.) between

interior spaces

32 and 34. In the exemplary embodiment, a leak in interior portion 24 causes an excessive or undesirable level of noise in the interior of the aircraft, and/or other types of undesirable leaks (such as heat or airflow) that, if mitigated, would help provide a more desirable environment (e.g., noise, temperature, and/or the like) in aircraft 10. While fig. 1 illustrates an aircraft 10, it should be understood that various alternative embodiments may include vehicles other than aircraft having a vehicle structure and an interior portion that includes objects and/or components that define gaps therebetween that allow for leakage between interior spaces/regions of the interior portion.

Fig. 2A shows a perspective view of a seal 36 according to an exemplary embodiment. The seal 36 is configured to prevent, reduce, minimize, and/or prevent leakage. In the exemplary embodiment, the seal includes an outer wall 38 that extends in a longitudinal direction 40 and has an outer surface(s) 42. As shown, the seal 36 includes

end sections

44 and 46, and an intermediate section 48 disposed therebetween. Each of the

end sections

44 and 46 and the intermediate section 48 extends in the longitudinal direction 40. Although the seal 36 is shown as having three sections (e.g., end section 44, end section 46, and intermediate section 48), various alternative embodiments of the seal 36 include seals having less than three but at least one section, or more than three sections.

In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 is defined by a projection of an I-shaped cross-section (e.g., a lateral cross-section) along a length of seal 36 in a longitudinal direction 40. As such, in the exemplary embodiment, intermediate section 48 is relatively thinner than

end sections

44 and 46, and end

sections

44 and 46 have a relatively larger diameter, size, and/or thickness. For example, the thickness of the intermediate section 48 is less than the thickness of the end sections 44 and the thickness of the end sections 46. In addition, the thickness of the

end sections

44 and 46 may be the same or different from each other. In the exemplary embodiment,

end sections

44 and 46 are substantially the same thickness.

Referring also to fig. 2B, the outer wall 38 at least partially surrounds the

channels

50, 52, and 54. In the exemplary embodiment, channel 50 is disposed in end section 44, channel 52 is disposed in middle section 48, and channel 54 is disposed in end section 46. Alternative embodiments of the seal 36 include at least one of the

end sections

44, 46 and/or the intermediate section 48 having at least one channel disposed therein, while the

other end sections

44, 46 and/or the intermediate section 48 may or may not have a corresponding channel(s) disposed therein. As will be discussed in further detail below, other embodiments of the seal 36 include at least one of the

end sections

44, 46 and/or the intermediate section 48 having a plurality of corresponding passages disposed therein, while

other end sections

44, 46 and/or the intermediate section 48 may or may not have a plurality of passages or any passage disposed therein.

Each of the

channels

50, 52 and 54 extend alongside one another, separated by an interposed spacer (septum)56 and 58. For example,

channels

50 and 52 are separated by a partition 56, while

channels

52 and 54 are separated by a partition 58. In exemplary embodiments, the baffles 56 may form at least a portion of the end sections 44 and/or the intermediate section 48, and/or the baffles 56 may be disposed between the end sections 44 and the intermediate section 48. Likewise, the spacers 58 may form at least a portion of the intermediate section 48 and/or the end sections 46, and/or may be disposed between the intermediate section 48 and the end sections 46. Thus, channel 50 is surrounded by section 51 and partition 56 of outer wall 38, channel 52 is surrounded by

sections

53 and 55 and

partitions

56 and 58 of outer wall 38, and channel 54 is surrounded by section 57 and partition 58 of outer wall 38.

As shown, the seal 36 includes a respective plurality of

interior walls

60, 62, and 64, the respective plurality of

interior walls

60, 62, and 64 being spaced apart from one another and disposed in the respective channel(s) 50, 52, and 54, extending transverse to the longitudinal direction 40. The

interior walls

60, 62, and 64 subdivide each of the channel(s) 50, 52, and 54 into a corresponding plurality of

cells

66, 68, and 70, respectively. For example, the plurality of interior walls 60 are spaced apart from one another in the channel 50 to subdivide the channel 50 into a plurality of cells 66, the plurality of interior walls 62 are spaced apart from one another in the channel 52 to subdivide the channel 52 into a plurality of cells 68, and the plurality of interior walls 64 are spaced apart from one another in the channel 54 to subdivide the channel 54 into a plurality of cells 70. In the exemplary embodiment, each cell in each of plurality of

cells

66, 68, and 70 is a closed cell. In the exemplary embodiment, each

cell

66, 68, and 70 is an enclosed volume that is not interconnected or in fluid communication with any

other cell

66, 68, and 70. As shown, each

cell

66, 68, and 70 is hollow (e.g., an empty space) and is surrounded by a respective cell wall that defines the

respective cell

66, 68, or 70 (e.g.,

cell walls

72, 74, and 76 define cell 66).

In the exemplary embodiment, inner walls 60 are substantially equally spaced from each other, inner walls 62 are substantially equally spaced from each other, and inner walls 64 are substantially equally spaced from each other. Alternatively, one or more of the plurality of

interior walls

60, 62, and/or 64 may be non-equidistantly spaced from the other interior walls of the respective plurality of

interior walls

60, 62, or 64. Additionally, one or more of the

interior walls

60, 62, 64 may be planar aligned with a laterally adjacent

interior wall

60, 62, and/or 64. For example, each of the plurality of interior walls 60 may be in planar alignment with each of the plurality of interior walls 62 and each of the plurality of interior walls 64 (e.g., planes 78 and 80). Alternatively, one or more of the

interior walls

60, 62, 64 may be offset, staggered, or otherwise out of planar alignment with laterally adjacent

interior walls

60, 62, and/or 64.

In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 36 is formed from a polymeric material, such as a relatively flexible polymeric material. In one example, the relatively flexible polymeric material is silicone, but other flexible polymeric materials may be used, such as, for example, thermoplastic elastomer materials (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane materials (TPU), and the like. In exemplary embodiments, the polymeric material remains flexible even at low temperatures, such as, for example, the polymeric material remains flexible at about-50 ℃ up to and beyond room temperature (such as, for example, 100 ℃ or higher). For example, the polymeric material has a glass transition temperature (T) of less than about-50 ℃ (such as, for example, about-55 ℃ to about-90 ℃)_(g))。

In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 meets the flame retardant requirements specified in FAR section 25.853. For example, the polymeric material forming the seal 36 may include at least one flame retardant additive.

Referring also to fig. 3A, a cross-sectional view of the seal 36 disposed into the gap 30a of the interior portion 24 of the aircraft 10 according to an exemplary embodiment is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the gap 30a may change or otherwise vary in size (e.g., width) during different times and/or conditions. For example, the gap 30a may have a different gap size and/or width under ground conditions (e.g., when the aircraft 10 is on the ground) relative to under flight conditions (e.g., when the aircraft 10 is in flight). Further, for example, depending on altitude, pressure, and/or temperature, the gap size and/or width of the gap 30a may vary during ground conditions and/or flight conditions.

As shown, the seal 36 is pressed into the gap 30a or otherwise inserted into the gap 30a, thereby disposing the seal 36 in the gap 30a at a location 82 (indicated by dashed lines). In exemplary embodiments, for example, under both ground and flight conditions of the aircraft 10, the seal 36 may expand, contract, and/or deform as the gap size of the gap 30a changes to provide an effective acoustic seal, heat seal, airflow seal, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 does not cause any significant stress to surrounding structures (e.g., object 26a and object 28a) due to its flexibility, even during changes in gap size, for example, due to aircraft 10 being in ground conditions versus flight conditions.

In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 expands and contracts such that seal 36 stays in place to seal gap 30a regardless of the conditions experienced by the aircraft. As such, the seal 36 disposed in the gap 30a at the location 82 effectively reduces, minimizes, prevents, and/or blocks leakage from the interior space(s) 32 and/or 34 through the seal 36 into the other interior space(s) 32 and/or 34. Furthermore, the internal cell structure of the seal 36, in combination with the flexibility of the polymeric material forming the seal 36, allows the seal 36 to expand or compress, and thus the seal 36 may be easily squeezed, pushed, or otherwise placed into the gap 30a, such that the seal 36, once seated in the gap 30a, stays in place between the

objects

26a and 28a without becoming easily dislodged. In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 is provided with a middle section 48 having a thickness that is less than the thickness of

end sections

44 and 46, which facilitates completely sealing gap 30a once seal 36 is in position 82.

In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 has an internal cell structure to enhance its flexibility for compression and expansion to accommodate available space. As will be discussed in further detail below, in the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 has an outer shape 84 to facilitate staying in place and forming an airtight seal with surrounding structures even during changes in the size of the gap due to aircraft 10 being in ground conditions versus flight conditions. In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 36 may be cut to a customized length, for example due to its internal cell structure, and still maintain its sealing capability.

Referring also to fig. 3B, an alternative embodiment of the seal 36 disposed in the gap 30B of the interior portion 24 of the aircraft 10 is provided. Gap 30b and objects 26b and 28b are configured similarly to gap 30a and objects 26a and 28a, respectively, except that objects 26b and 28b are oriented vertically with respect to each other and form gap 30b therebetween, while

objects

26a and 28a are oriented laterally or horizontally and form gap 30a therebetween. However, similar to the gap 30a, the gap 30b may change dimensions, such as gap height, during different conditions. In the exemplary embodiment, seal 36 is pressed or otherwise inserted into gap 30b to position seal 36 at location 86 for sealing engagement with

objects

26b and 28 b. In the exemplary embodiment, at location 86, seal 36 provides a double barrier wall or barrier via

end sections

44 and 46. Thus, for example, a dual bulkhead provides better noise, thermal, etc. isolation (e.g., barrier) than a single bulkhead for acoustic and/or thermal purposes. In this way, the seal 36 may be disposed between the

objects

26b and 28b at location 86 to provide a double barrier wall, which advantageously improves the ability to block noise, airflow, etc. from passing through the gap 30 b. Accordingly, the location 86 at which the seal 36 is disposed in the gap 30b effectively reduces, minimizes, prevents, and/or blocks leakage from the interior space(s) 32 and/or 34 from propagating through the seal 36 into the other interior space(s) 32 and/or 34.

In the exemplary embodiment, the internal cell structure also advantageously acts as a plurality of walls, barriers, or barriers that block noise, airflow, and/or prevent other leakage from propagating through seal 36. In addition, the internal cell structure allows the seal 36 to be cut to a customized length such that the seal 36 still includes at least two or more of the

interior walls

60, 62, and/or 64 to prevent leakage from propagating through the seal 36.

Fig. 4A-4C illustrate various cross-sectional views of the internal shape 88 of the end section 44 and/or 46 of the seal 36 depicted in fig. 2A, according to exemplary embodiments. The internal shape 88 is a lateral cross-section of the end section 44 and/or 46 taken between inner walls of the plurality of inner walls 60 and/or 64. In the exemplary embodiment, each cell in

end sections

44 and 46 is defined by a projection of interior shape 88 in longitudinal direction 40 between interior walls of each of the respective plurality of

interior walls

60 and 64. For example, if the internal shape 88 of the end section 44 corresponds to fig. 4A, the end section 44 includes a channel 50 subdivided by a plurality of interior walls 60 into a plurality of cells 66. Alternatively, if the internal shape 88 of the end section 44 corresponds to fig. 4B, the end section 44 comprises the channel 50 and

additional channels

90, 92 and 94 extending alongside the channel 50 in the longitudinal direction 40 and subdivided by the plurality of inner walls 60 into a respective plurality of

cells

66, 96, 98 and 100. In addition, baffles 102, 104, 106, and 108 are disposed in end section 44, and

channels

50, 90, 92, and 94 are separated by

baffles

102, 104, 106, and 108, respectively. Accordingly, fig. 4A and 4B depict embodiments of the seal 36 having 1 and 4 passages in the end section(s) 44 and/or 46, respectively, while fig. 4C depicts an alternative embodiment of the seal having 16 passages in the end section(s) 44 and/or 46. Accordingly, it should be understood that various embodiments of the seal 36 include end segment(s) 44 and/or 46 having any number of passages disposed therein.

Fig. 5A-5B illustrate various cross-sectional views of the internal shape 110 of the middle section 48 of the seal 36 depicted in fig. 2A, according to exemplary embodiments. The internal shape 110 is a lateral cross-section of the intermediate section 48 taken between inner walls of the plurality of inner walls 62. In the exemplary embodiment, each cell in intermediate section 48 is defined by a projection of interior shape 110 in longitudinal direction 40 between interior walls of plurality of interior walls 62. For example, if the interior shape 110 of the intermediate section 48 corresponds to fig. 5A, the intermediate section 48 includes a channel 52 subdivided by a plurality of interior walls 62 into a plurality of cells 68. Alternatively, if the internal shape 110 of the intermediate section 48 corresponds to fig. 5B, the intermediate section 48 comprises the channel 52 and

additional channels

112 and 114 extending alongside the channel 52 in the longitudinal direction 40 and is subdivided by the plurality of inner walls 62 into a respective plurality of

cells

68, 116 and 118. Additionally, baffles 120 and 122 are disposed in intermediate section 48, and

channels

52, 112, and 114 are separated by

baffles

120 and 122, respectively. It should be appreciated that various embodiments of the seal 36 include a mid-section 48 having any number of passages disposed therein.

Fig. 6A-6D illustrate various cross-sectional views of the outer shape 124 of the end section 44 and/or 46 of the seal 36 depicted in fig. 2A according to exemplary embodiments. The outer shape 124 is a lateral cross-section of the end section 44 and/or the end section 46 taken through an inner wall of the plurality of inner walls 60 and/or 64. As shown, the outer shape 124 of the end section 44 and/or 46 of the seal 36 may each be selected from the group of shapes: circular (as shown in fig. 6A), polygonal (as shown in fig. 6B), circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate projections (as shown in fig. 6C), and circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate depressions (as shown in fig. 6D). In the exemplary embodiment, providing seal(s) 36 with end sections 44 and/or 46 having, for example, an outer shape 124 enhances sealing.

Fig. 7A-7C illustrate various cross-sectional views of the outer shape 84 of the seal 36 depicted in fig. 2A, according to an exemplary embodiment. The outer shape 84 is a lateral cross-section of the seal 36 including the

inner walls

60, 62, and 64. As shown, the seal 36 may or may not include a blister 126 (e.g., a positive feature extending radially outward from the longitudinal direction 40) to enhance sealing capability and tolerance mounting variability. In an exemplary embodiment, the blisters 126 are positioned adjacent to the middle section 48 just inboard of the

end sections

44 and 46 or along the middle section 48. In the exemplary embodiment, advantageously, the bulb 126 ensures that some portion of the seal 36 will always be compressed so that the gaps 30a and/or 30b will be sealed even if there is some more mobility or change in the gap dimensions with respect to tolerance variations. In the exemplary embodiment, blister 126 is hollow and includes an interior wall, such as an interior wall of plurality of

interior walls

60, 62, and/or 64, to define at least a portion of the internal cell structure of seal 36.

In an exemplary embodiment, the seal 36 is formed via an additive process (e.g., a 3D printing process, stereolithography, or other additive manufacturing process). In this manner, the seal 36 is of unitary and/or continuous construction. For example, the plurality of

inner walls

60, 62, and 64 and the outer wall 38 are formed as a single piece and/or structure by an additive process.

Fig. 8 illustrates a method 200 for manufacturing a seal according to an exemplary embodiment. The method 200 includes forming (step 202) an outer wall by an additive process. The outer wall extends in the longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounds the first channel. A plurality of interior walls are formed (step 204) by an additive process. The inner walls are spaced apart from each other and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

In an exemplary embodiment, the additive process is a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. In an exemplary embodiment, the seal is formed of a polymeric material, for example, a polymeric material selected from the group of thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), and silicone. In an exemplary embodiment, forming the first plurality of interior walls includes subdividing the first channel into a first plurality of cells configured as closed cells. In exemplary embodiments, the polymeric material is flexible, having a glass transition temperature (T) of about-50 ℃ or less (such as, for example, about-55 ℃ to about-90 ℃)_(g))。

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A seal, comprising:

an outer wall extending in a longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounding the first channel; and

a first plurality of interior walls spaced apart from one another and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of cells are closed cells.

3. The seal of claim 1, wherein each cell of the first plurality of cells is hollow.

4. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is formed of a polymeric material.

5. The seal of claim 4, wherein the polymeric material is flexible, having a glass transition temperature (T) of about-50 ℃ or less_(g))。

6. The seal of claim 1, further comprising a first partition at least partially surrounded by the outer wall, wherein the outer wall at least partially surrounds a second channel that extends alongside the first channel separated by the first partition, and wherein the seal further comprises a second plurality of inner walls that are spaced apart from one another and disposed in the second channel transverse to the longitudinal direction so as to subdivide the second channel into a second plurality of cells.

7. The seal of claim 6, further comprising a second septum at least partially surrounded by the outer wall, wherein the outer wall at least partially surrounds a third channel extending alongside the second channel separated by the second septum, and wherein the seal further comprises a third plurality of inner walls spaced apart from one another and disposed in the third channel transverse to the longitudinal direction so as to subdivide the third channel into a third plurality of cells.

8. The seal of claim 7, wherein the seal has a first end section, a second end section, and an intermediate section disposed therebetween, wherein the first end section, the second end section, and the intermediate section extend in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the first channel is disposed in the first end section, the second channel is disposed in the intermediate section, and the third channel is disposed in the second end section.

9. The seal of claim 8, wherein the first end section has a first thickness, the middle section has a second thickness, and the second end section has a third thickness, and wherein the second thickness is less than the first thickness and the third thickness.

10. The seal of claim 9, wherein the first end section has a first lateral cross-section having a first outer shape selected from the group of: circular, polygonal, circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate projections, and circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate recesses.

11. The seal of claim 10, wherein the second end section has a second lateral cross-section having a second outer shape selected from the group of: circular, polygonal, circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate projections, and circular with circumferentially spaced arcuate recesses.

12. The seal of claim 11, wherein the seal has a third lateral cross-section having a third outer shape that is substantially I-shaped.

13. The seal of claim 8, wherein the first septum separates the first channel in the first end section and the second channel in the middle section, and wherein the second septum separates the third channel in the second end section and the second channel in the middle section.

14. The seal of claim 13, further comprising a third septum disposed in the first end section, and the outer wall at least partially surrounds a fourth channel extending alongside the first channel separated by the third septum.

15. The seal of claim 14, further comprising a fourth septum disposed in the middle section extending in the longitudinal direction, and the outer wall at least partially surrounds a fifth channel extending alongside the second channel separated by the fourth septum.

16. A method for manufacturing a seal, the method comprising the steps of:

forming an outer wall by an addition process, the outer wall extending in a longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounding the first channel; and

forming a plurality of inner walls by the addition process, wherein the inner walls are spaced apart from each other and disposed in the first channel transverse to the longitudinal direction to subdivide the first channel into a first plurality of cells.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the additive process is a three-dimensional (3D) printing process.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the plurality of interior walls comprises subdividing the first channel into the first plurality of cells configured as closed cells.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the seal is formed from a polymeric material including at least one flame retardant additive.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the polymeric material is flexible, having a glass transition temperature (T) of about-50 ℃ or less_(g))。